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Monday, December 9, 2013

Vatican
City, 7 December 2013 (VIS) - “To proclaim Christ in the digital
era is a special field for the work of the young”, since for them
the internet is in a certain sense their natural home. It is a
widespread, complex reality in continual evolution, and its
development continues to pose the ever-valid question of the
relationship between faith and culture.”

Pope
Francis commented that the theme, chosen by the Pontifical Council
for the Laity in its plenary assembly – “Proclaiming Christ in
the digital era” – was “a very current question” which
however recalled the first centuries of Christianity in which “the
Church wished to measure up to the extraordinary legacy of Greek
culture”.

“Faced
with philosophies of great depth and an educational method of
exceptional value, but infused with pagan elements, the Fathers did
not shy away from comparison, nor did they compromise with any ideas
contrary to their faith. Instead, they were able to recognise and
assimilate the most elevated concepts, transforming them from within
in the light of the Word of God. They implemented St. Paul's call to
'test everything, hold on to the good'. Also, among the opportunities
and dangers of the internet, it is necessary to test everything,
aware that we certainly find false currencies, dangerous illusions
and traps to be avoided. But, guided by the Holy Spirit, we will also
discover valuable opportunities to lead mankind towards the luminous
face of the Lord”.

Among
the possibilities offered by digital communication, the most
important “regards the proclamation of the Gospel. It is certainly
not enough to acquire technological skills, although these are
important. It is above all about meeting real women and men, often
harmed or lost, to offer them real reasons for hope. Proclamation
requires authentic and direct human relations to flow into a personal
encounter with the Lord. Therefore the internet is not enough,
technology is not sufficient. This, however, does not mean that the
presence of the Church on the web is useless; on the contrary, it is
indispensable to be present, always in an evangelical style, in what
has become for many people, especially the young, a sort of life
environment, to reawaken the insuppressible questions the heart asks
about the meaning of existence, and to indicate the way to He Who is
the answer, the divine Mercy made flesh, the Lord Jesus”.

Francis
concluded by commenting that the Church forever walks a path “in
the search of new ways to proclaim the Gospel. The contribution and
the witness of lay faithful is shown every day to be indispensable”.